Release Dates

I'm re-posting my comments on Cowdery's blog over here as a new thread, I want to hear some opinions.

"In defense of Ohio, why do these companies care about the release date? This isn't a Hollywood movie release with an opening weekend where the movie starts playing everywhere at the same time. I've never seen bottles show up in my local stores on time, if they show up. I'm not going to see the 2012 OF birthday bourbon because my local store still has the '09 on the shelf. I always see new whiskeys at least a couple of months after everybody else has. Maybe I just don't go to the right places?

We need bourbon listings like they have movie listings for showtimes and locations of movies, we need store hours and availability of new whiskey. RRSB now available at times square wine and liquor 11am to 1am. something like that"

Re: Release Dates

An issue here, that doesn't apply to movies, is the mandatory 3-tier system. Producers don't control what happens once they've delivered the product to the distributor. In control states, the state is the distributor. Ohio requires product something like two months before the official release date, but then puts the product out whenever it feels like it. If you want better release date information, talk to your local distributor. The producers can't help you.

Re: Release Dates

I think set release dates is a bad idea. I have seen that done with alcohol related products recently with very unfavorable results. A few local stores had a set date and time for their Van Winkle and BTAC releases. That resulted in lines 100+ deep waiting for 5 hours or more. I'm not dedicated enough to play those games so I got nothing from these stores. Westvleteren did the set date/time/store with their one time US distribution and that was a CF nationwide. One of the lucky stores here had overnight "campers", fights, and police involved. Cantillon beer has become the same routine. It seems to be the PVW of the beer world. It's like dealing with Black Friday door buster sales to get these things. I feel the set release date decreases your chances of acquiring what you want and it cancels out any kind of relationship that you may have developed with retailers over the years since their policy is now first come first serve on said date and time. I personally like the "surprise" bottles that show up randomly at stores throughout the year. They are fun to find and the masses aren't hunting it down since it wasn't expected.

Re: Release Dates

Originally Posted by BradleyC

I think set release dates is a bad idea. I have seen that done with alcohol related products recently with very unfavorable results. A few local stores had a set date and time for their Van Winkle and BTAC releases. That resulted in lines 100+ deep waiting for 5 hours or more. I'm not dedicated enough to play those games so I got nothing from these stores. Westvleteren did the set date/time/store with their one time US distribution and that was a CF nationwide. One of the lucky stores here had overnight "campers", fights, and police involved. Cantillon beer has become the same routine. It seems to be the PVW of the beer world. It's like dealing with Black Friday door buster sales to get these things. I feel the set release date decreases your chances of acquiring what you want and it cancels out any kind of relationship that you may have developed with retailers over the years since their policy is now first come first serve on said date and time. I personally like the "surprise" bottles that show up randomly at stores throughout the year. They are fun to find and the masses aren't hunting it down since it wasn't expected.

If you have a strong enough relationship with your store manager hopefully they will hold some back for you during a special release if they can. Doesn't always work of course.

Oddly in Atlanta at least, the local Total Wines quietly made the Westvleteren available a week or so before the publicized release date. No idea why. A person in the industry kindly gave me a heads up or I would have never known. I could still only buy one box but I avoided the crowds (presuming there were crowds).

Never been fortunate enough to hear about a Cantillon release in my area. I had to go to the brewery in Brussels to get the few I have acquired. Bit of a hassle but no crowds!

That yella whiskey runnin' down my throat like honey dew vine water and I took another slash…

Re: Release Dates

Originally Posted by Lazer

We need bourbon listings like they have movie listings for showtimes and locations of movies, we need store hours and availability of new whiskey. RRSB now available at times square wine and liquor 11am to 1am. something like that"

I'm a big fan of beermenus.com which accomplishes some of this (for beer only of course) and seems to be gaining popularity with a lot of retailers. I've recently wondered if those same developers would be willing to create a new site called whiskeymenus.com.

Re: Release Dates

Originally Posted by thiemb

I'm a big fan of beermenus.com which accomplishes some of this (for beer only of course) and seems to be gaining popularity with a lot of retailers. I've recently wondered if those same developers would be willing to create a new site called whiskeymenus.com.